CSM: The Reborn WIP first pics

[Lupercal]

This is my current project, The Reborn renegades based on the blurb in the CSM codex. They're not my best work, but they are fairly quick (except for the verdigris). The occasional touchup is necessary, but I'd say these units are over 99% done.

What do you think?

http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j477/Dystrafemek/The%20Reborn%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines/PlagueMarinesSquad.jpg

http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j477/Dystrafemek/The%20Reborn%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines/NoiseMarinesSquad.jpg

http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j477/Dystrafemek/The%20Reborn%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines/BlastmasterNoiseChampOldSkool.jpg

[Lupercal]

Perhaps I should have been more explicit. I could use some feedback before I do any more work on the army, so any comments you have would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Lupercal

[Lerra]

I like em! Especially the verdigris. It does seems a bit dark, but that could easily be a photography thing rather than the actual models.

[isotope99]

Yuck to the bases, otherwise they look suitably ancient and corroded.

I'd try and pick out the eyes a bit brighter too.

[Lupercal]

Lerra: Thanks! What seems dark, the verdigris or the models as a whole? I'm using Jade Green for the verdigris. If that's not quite right, I could mix something. However, this is not intended to be a "showcase" army, so I don't really want to try to layer the verdigris to make it look natural.

Isotope99: The bases are intended to portray a "Mars-type" desert. There's not much to them, I know. I'm thinking about sprucing them up with some grass. Are there suggestions for what I could do without actually re-basing?

As far as the eyes go, I haven't actually picked them out at all. The idea was to have the verdigris define the eyes and leave them dark, but I see that's not working. It just makes me look like a lazy painter. I do need to go back and pick them out. Good call.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions!

[isotope99]

It might just be the photo but the edge of the base looks more of a mucky pink than mars rock. I'd recommend a mix of dark red and brown/orange (e.g. scab red plus macharius orange) and just repaint the edge.

[Lupercal]

That's a good idea. I usually use the basecoat color of the bases as the rim color, but that may not work in this case. It's straight mechrite. Thanks for your thoughtful reply.

[theHman]

1. How exactly did you do the verdigris? Looks awesome!

2. Sorry, but really not liking the bases. If they match your regular gaming table then cool. Otherwise I would go with a more traditional base color, green, grey (city) or even a brown.

3. Maybe do the edges of their shoulder pads in another complimentary color. They seem a bit too verdigris. LOL


Overall though, I really like what you've done.

[Lerra]

The verdigris looks great for a army-wide scheme - I wouldn't change that at all. The model overall looks a bit dark, but as I said before, you really have to judge that one in person because it can be misleading in a photo. A bit more contrast between the darkest and lightest parts of the model would make the detail a bit easier to see, especially if you have a whole army of these guys on the table and you're looking at it from a few feet away. It might help to add a highlight to the metal parts that have a sharp edge exposed, if you have time.

If you did away with the red rim on the base I think it would help, too. The red is kind of shocking and pulls attention away from the rest of the model. If you like the red, though, give it another layer so that you can't see the black through the red paint.

Adding a lighter colored drybrush layer to the top of the bases (something with a bit of orange) would make them look more Mars-like. It would also help add contrast so the models "pop" more.

Overall though, I really like these models. You pulled off the verdigris very well.

[Sisiutl]

I think your verdigris is a little too heavy and dark and is obscuring some of the detail. I would use a lighter green and water it down more, you want it to stick more to the recesses like a wash. I use Foul Green about 25/75 to thraka green wash and maybe some water as well.

[Lupercal]

Okay, I'll definitely find something to do with the base rims. For the tops of the bases, I'm already using a Vomit Brown drybrush. The problem there is that there's not a whole lot of texture other than plain sand on many of the bases, so it doesn't really pop.

The "overdone" verdigris is actually a stylistic choice, though maybe not the best one. They've been wearing this armor for several thousand years without proper maintenance. I could be wrong, but I would think you'd get a lot of buildup over that time. Mixing in a bit of Thraka is a great idea though, as it's not sticking to the recesses as much as I'd like.

By way of background:
The point of this army is to be able play at my local GW with a new, fully painted force. I worked there for a couple of years and can't really play with unpainted stuff without being a hypocrite. I have a reputation there, and especially need to set a proper example for the kids if I'm gonna game there. My Vostroyans are my showcase work, though they've been on the back burner for quite a bit.

That said, I intend to go back and detail the models more over time. I just want them to be a medium-high table grade before I play with them in public. All the suggestions are great things for me to think about, and I'll see what I can integrate into my batch painting regimen going forward. Keep 'em coming!

[Lupercal]

theHman:
1. The verdigris is just a wash of Jade Green, which I recently picked up from the proprietor of my FLGS. Since it has been discontinued for several years, he sold it to me from his personal stash. It was a big win for me, and the guy in my opinion is awesome for it. I'm sure Vallejo has an analogue, or if not surely someone does.

2. I intend to build a gaming table to match the bases. I've always loved the unusual nature of "mars" basing as seen in the GW books.

3. The shoulder pads are shocking, I know. The illustration in the codex shows them with black rims and brass pads. However, I only have cult troops so I decided to have cult colors on the pads with brass rims instead. I run all 4 cults, with converted all-plastic Plague Marines and Thousand Sons, so the cult colors are necessary to easily tell them apart on the table. None of them look great next to Jade Green though. At some point, I just have to accept that it's a quirky scheme.

[Tynskel]

I would paint the rim of the base black. It's dark, and won't stand out. Also, it provides a contrast to both the terrain and the model, allowing them to 'jump out'. Right now, when I look at the picture, my eyes are not drawn to the chaos miniatures, but to the bottom of the bases.

[Lupercal]

Tynskel: That's good to know. I've never done black rims, though I've seen them quite a bit online. I'll have to think about that. I always wondered why people would have black rims on their models.

[Gitsplitta]

I really like the look of them... though I am a bit embarassed by needing to look up verdigris. The two things that most jump out at me as far as detracting from their look are...

1. The barrels of the guns are not drilled out.
2. The bases are no where near the standard set by the figs.

Luckily both can be fixed pretty easily. Fixing the barrels is self-explanatory. There are several options for handling the bases... as the red is an excellent compliment to the figures, there's no reason to change the color, so...

- rather than using a single sized grit which gives you the look of a parking lot... use a variety of sizes... I use Gale Force 9's basing grit. small, medium & large in a 1:2:1 mix, which yields a very natural looking mix of substrate.
- If you can't do that, find some very small stones from your driveway, or gravel near the road and intersperse them with your gravel, again giving it a more natural feel.
- paint with the color of your choice
- when dry, flood with a darker wash... for reds, sepia or GW's ogryn flesh work well, though if you want a darker color you can darken up either with some black wash
- ring that base in something that contrasts with the surface... effectively ending the illusion at the surface of the base. This makes for a nice show of the basing and the figure... black works for just about everything.

Nice figs... get them based up appropriately and they'll look fantastic on the table!